Xiaomi 12S Pro vs Xiaomi 13: A Detailed Showdown

Xiaomi continues to deliver impressive flagship phones, and the 12S Pro and 13 are prime examples. Both offer premium features and performance, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which one deserves a spot in your pocket.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 13 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, brighter display, and refined camera system. However, the 12S Pro's significantly faster 120W wired charging remains a compelling advantage for those prioritizing speed.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12S Pro Xiaomi 13
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2022, July 042022, December 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 07Available. Released 2022, December 14
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back or silicone polymer back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.6 x 74.6 x 8.2 mm or 8.7 mm152.8 x 71.5 x 8.0 mm or 8.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight203 g / 204 g (7.16 oz)185 g or 189 g (6.53 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~521 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~414 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 109.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.36 inches, 97.7 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica lens, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLeica lens, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide)50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), 1/3.75", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 1080p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR10+1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 38 min 50W wireless, 100% in 48 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, White, Purple, GreenWhite, Black, Flora Green, Mountain Blue, Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Gray
Models2206122SC2211133C, 2211133G
PriceAbout 670 EUR€ 314.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 108h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1248260 (v9) GeekBench: 5129 (v5.1) GFXBench: 109fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12S Pro

  • Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
  • Excellent performance with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Premium build quality
  • Good camera system

  • Slightly older chipset compared to 13
  • Lower peak brightness display than 13
  • Charging speed slower than 120W for wireless

Xiaomi 13

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter and potentially better contrast display
  • Improved camera system
  • Modern design

  • Slower wired charging compared to 12S Pro
  • Price may be higher

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 boasts a significant advantage with its measured 1254 nits peak brightness, making it far more visible in direct sunlight. While the 12S Pro's display is excellent, the 13's higher brightness and potentially better contrast (indicated by 'Infinite' ratio) provide a superior viewing experience. Both feature high refresh rates for smooth scrolling.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer excellent camera capabilities, the Xiaomi 13's camera system is generally considered an upgrade. The newer image processing algorithms and potentially improved sensors contribute to better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Both offer versatile camera setups with multiple lenses.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xiaomi 13 offers a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 12S Pro. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the 13. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the 13 has more headroom for demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 108h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the 12S Pro's 120W wired charging allows for significantly faster top-ups compared to the 13's 67W charging. This is a crucial factor for users who frequently need to recharge their phones.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 12S Pro is ideal for users who value incredibly fast charging and don't mind slightly older hardware. The Xiaomi 13 is the better choice for those seeking the latest processor, a brighter display, and a more advanced camera experience, even if charging speeds are a bit slower.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 13 worth the upgrade from a Xiaomi 12?
If you prioritize the latest processor, a brighter display, and camera improvements, then the Xiaomi 13 is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're happy with your Xiaomi 12's performance and primarily value fast charging, the upgrade might not be essential.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi 13, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, generally offers better gaming performance due to its more powerful GPU and improved thermal management.